The Isle of Man prepares to celebrate the crowning of King Charles III and The Queen Consort

| 06/04/2023

Next month will celebrate the crowning of His Majesty King Charles III, Lord of Mann and Her Majesty The Queen Consort. Across the whole of the Isle of Man, communities will come together to celebrate.

Minister for the Cabinet Office Kate Lord-Brennan MHK said:

‘This is a truly historic moment and one of constitutional significance for the Island as our new Lord of Mann is crowned.  

‘The Coronation will have pomp and ceremony, but The King and The Queen Consort have made clear their desire for the strengthening of community bonds to be at the heart of the celebrations. With a focus on family, friends and volunteering, the Coronation represents an opportunity to come together, to make lifelong memories, and to have a positive impact across our Island.’

Official celebrations will last three days

Over a three-day weekend between Saturday 6th and Monday 8th of May, the official festivities will be held.

The coronation itself will be on Saturday 6th of May, starting with the King’s Procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. Following a tradition that dates back over a thousand years The King and The Queen Consort will be crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the traditional ceremony. After The King and The Queen Consort have returned to Buckingham Palace in the Coronation Procession, they will appear before the cheering crowned on the Palace balcony.

The Coronation Concert on Sunday will be live broadcast by the BBC and held on the East Lawn at Windsor Castle. The concert will feature global music icons and contemporary stars.

On Monday the official celebrations will be rounding-off and a special public holiday announced to mark the coronation. There will be a focus on volunteering, people today are already being encouraged to ‘lend a hand and make a change’ by joining in with The Big Help Out. Over the three days of celebrations, communities and neighbourhoods are being encouraged to come together and share friendship, food and fun by organising a Coronation Big Lunch. An app has been launched to match up volunteers and organisations for the Coronation. More details, ideas, tips and resources for organising a Coronation Big Lunch – as well as a free information pack.

A picnic fit for a King!

The Coronation Big Lunch is intended to encourage friends, neighbours and community groups to come together and enjoy local produce in a natural setting.

Coronation Event Fund

Around the Island, a number of events to celebrate the Coronation will be taking place and a Coronation Event Fund has been established to support local authorities, community groups and charities in funding these. 

Local authorities can apply for a one-off grant of up to £2,000 whilst community groups and charities can apply for funding of up to £500. The money can be used to cover up to eighty per cent of specific eligible costs such as venue hire, entertainment, promotion and equipment. Every effort should be made to support local suppliers wherever possible.

Eligible events include live music and entertainment, festival activities and exhibitions. Individuals interested in supporting the development of these events are encouraged to reach out to their local authorities. Events must demonstrate a clear connection to the Coronation and be open to the public. The deadline for applications is 28 April.

 

Source: https://www.businessisleofman.com/news/coronation-event-fund-announced/

International Women’s Day 2023

| 29/03/2023

As today marks International Women’s Day, it is a good time to look back on what women have achieved. Over the years people have fought to remove gender balances in our workspace and they have come so far, but gender bias is still in our lives today. A recent ONS report on gender pay gaps revealed that women earn 7.9% less than men, and 16% less in higher-paying jobs. Fawcett Society 2022 Sex and Power Index showed that women are outnumbered 2:1 in the 5,166 positions of power in society.

To celebrate IWD is to raise awareness and support women in traditionally male-dominated industries. This year’s theme #EmbraceEquity focuses on creating an equal, inclusive world where bias, stereotypes, and discrimination is not something we have to pass on to our children. The theme embraces the idea that we can celebrate the world’s  diverse and valuable women through inclusive actions. Its important to understand the difference between equality and equity, and why ‘equal’ on its own, sometimes isn’t enough.

This is an interview with Tiffany Kerruish, Co-Founder of The Fynoderee Distillery, Raquel Pueyo, Architect at Horncastle Thomas, Architects + Designers, and Ruth Meade Co-Owner of Red Mie, a farm in Ballaugh.

 

What does Equity mean to you?

Tiffany Kerruish (TK): It means levelling the playing field and providing fair access to opportunity.

Raquel Pueyo (RP): To me, equity is closely linked to fairness and leads to equality. Women should have the same opportunities regardless of family commitments.

Ruth Meade (RM): For me equity is an expectation that everyone will be judged on their performance and the same opportunities offered to all who meet the requirements of any given role.

What advice do you have for women starting out a career in your sector?

TK: If you have a passion for craft spirits, then absolutely go for it! It’s such a creative, exciting world and a growing sector too, especially here on the Island where we now have 5 distilleries. The percentage of women distillers in the UK is rapidly growing and studies have shown that on average women have more taste buds and a more ‘sophisticated’ palate – important for developing flavour profiles and recipes for spirits. There are many excellent degree programmes and vocational qualifications in distilling with many other associated careers in the business aspects that surround the sector such as sales, logistics, marketing and PR.

RP: Architecture is a creative and challenging job that demands loads of energy and time, and it can be intimidating because it is a male-dominated sector. However, it gives you a lot of job satisfaction when your designs come to life.

RM: Just go for it, there is a lot of support out there and I’ve never felt like I’ve been treated differently because I’m a  woman –  I have always loved working outdoors and I find farming really fulfilling, even when it is tough! You have to love farming and have bags of resilience to keep at it because it’s a 24/7 job, however the community are always there with support if you need it.

Do you think enough is being done by your industry/professions to address gender imbalance?

TK: Yes and no! Since the craft spirits boom, there has never been more women getting involved in the sector as well as enjoying the products that we make!  However, there is a big disparity in the way brands, particularly Whiskey brands are still predominantly gender biased in their branding and communication which gives the impression of a very male dominated sector despite a growing number of female-owned brands and distilleries. Happily, the “Women in Whisky” movement is gaining pace and I look forward to seeing how the big brands react as well as being part of this myself!

RP: I think more could be done. The main issue most women encounter is the difficulty in juggling family and work commitments. Fortunately, flexible working hours and the option to work from home have become more common after the pandemic, and hopefully, this will help to retain women in the architecture sector. Mentoring and leadership training should be offered to women to develop their management skills.

RM: I don’t think its necessarily about any one industry adapting to make it more accessible to women, its more about women’s attitudes and having a ‘I can’ attitude to any role and this is a whole societal thing rather than a specific industry issue – the same would apply to men wanting to undertake a traditionally female role. Its possible that I’ve just been lucky, but I’ve never been told I can’t and the agricultural community here have always been really supportive, I know of quite a few women in agriculture on the Island and I’ve never felt that our views have been dismissed on the basis we are female.

What advice would you give to your younger self? 

TK: Keep an open mind and don’t panic if you don’t find the perfect niche or vocation straight away.  I love what I do at Fynoderee as I get to use a culmination of so many experiences, expertise and insights I have gathered through a marketing career in several industries along the way.  That said, if you are lucky enough to have a particular passion from an early stage look out for the apprentice schemes where you are offered a holistic understanding of the sector to fully appreciate and gain access to the varying opportunities out there.

RP: Most of us choose a career at a very early stage in our lives. Work experience placements and speaking with professionals in the field will give you an insight into the working life of an architect.

RM: I would encourage myself to take a stand against things I see that I don’t agree with, in the past I have sat back and said nothing, I’d tell myself be brave and be heard and its OK to disagree. I’m slowly getting better at this. I’ve found it quite hard putting what I really think down for these questions as I have made an assumption in my mind as to what people may want to hear and that’s not what I wanted to say – I want our children, boys and girls to know that anything is possible if you really set to, ask for help and are prepared to make sacrifices.

Source: https://www.businessisleofman.com/news/celebrating-international-womens-day/

2023 National Apprenticeship Week

| 29/03/2023

This month was the  National Apprenticeship Week, apprenticeships are becoming more and more popular in recent years and it’s important to showcase what the Isle of Man has to offer. Apprentices have now branched out from what we believed to be “traditional” and new apprentice frameworks are being installed for different economic sectors of the island. The Isle of Man University College has a wide range of apprenticeships including :
Plumbing

  • Carpentry & Joinery
  • Electrical
  • Brickwork
  • Painting & Decorating
  • Construction & the Built Environment
  • Horticulture
  • HR
  • Admin & IT
  • Computing
  • Digital Technologies
  • Engineering
  • Hairdressing
  • Dental Nursing
  • Professional Cookery
  • Motor Vehicle

 

An interview with the International Human Resources Manager from Swagelok, Melanie Beattie, and Civils Pm & Labour Manager from Dandara, Paul Roberts, tell us more about what the program has to offer.

 

How does the apprenticeship scheme differ from the graduate incentive scheme or other roles you have in your company?

M: Our apprentices come to us with mostly no experience of working within engineering and manufacturing. Therefore, this is a fast track process to enter into our organisation and gain the skills and experience needed. We pay study fees for our apprentice associates to continue their education up to degree level and can earn a salary whilst they study, which is not common across other educational schemes.

P: The apprentice scheme is a tool to train our younger generation. Having a good split between site and college works, this allows the apprentice to absorb new information and proactively test their skills on-site, it also allows both college and Dandara to build up a good understanding of health and safety/risks in the work place with the candidate. It’s a gradual way of learning and works really well if all parties participate and invest into the programme.

How successful is the apprenticeship scheme within your company?

M: Our apprenticeship is not only IET accredited (Institution of Engineering and Technology), but also sought after on the island with many engineering students applying for a role with us. We have many ex-apprentices working in our organisation some of which in senior leadership positions.

P: Approximately 95% of our apprentices complete the 3 year term and are then employed by Dandara on a long-term basis. Some directly employed, and others self-employed but still contracted to Dandara.

I would like to drive an initiative to try and offer more opportunities to young women in the industry, this still remains very low to non-existent for applications.

It can be recognised that there are stereotypical gender assumptions within certain apprenticeship schemes. Paul highlights a key message about the lack of women signing up for apprenticeships. It is important to make the scheme – regardless of what trade – desirable to both men and women, and guarantee they suit the needs of everyone.

What opportunities do you have currently through the apprenticeship scheme?

M: We offer apprenticeships within CNC Machining, Assembly and Quality Control, which is a diverse cross section of what we do. We offer higher education once the apprenticeship is complete and some of our associates get to visit our US Headquarters as part of their personal development.

P: At present we are not looking for apprentices this year, we have 4 candidates on the Pre-apprenticeship scheme, so these will become year 1 apprentices this September in their chosen trades. We have invested in the pre-apprentice scheme at UCM to allow these 16-year-olds to have an insight into industry from a multiple trade view so that they do not feel rushed into a decision.

We currently have apprentices across all 3 years in the schemes, in Joinery, Bricklaying, Plumbing, and Mechanics.

What are the benefits of having an apprenticeship scheme to your company?

M: The apprenticeship scheme gives us a pipeline of talent into our organisation which consists of people already based in the Isle of Man. We are able to take people at an early stage in their career and develop them within Swagelok’s culture, values and ways of working which makes for a more rounded and skilled workforce.

P: The apprenticeship scheme gives the business support by keeping a steady flow of new tradesmen/women in the industry. It is important that we pass on knowledge from the older generations, so key procedures for certain activities will not be lost. It is also critical for our business and the industry to keep introducing young men/women into the industry in all areas to ensure we can continue modernising build methods and keep constructing outstanding landmarks.

For more information about program visit ucm.ac.im/courses/apprenticeship

Source: https://www.businessisleofman.com/news/apprenticeship-week-2023/

Now open for applications: The Island Infrastructure Scheme

| 29/03/2023

Following the approval by Tynwald in December 2022, the multi-million pound Island Infrastructure Scheme has now opened for applications.

The Scheme, administered by the Department of Enterprise, is designed to help the development of privately owned brownfield sites  included  on the Unoccupied Urban Sites Register.

It will help to provide financial  assistance to offset the additional costs face when redeveloping sites, with its ultimate aim being to unlock social and economic value currently unrealised  across these sites.

As Minister of Enterprise, Lawrie Hooper puts it:
‘This administration has made a clear commitment to confronting the challenge of redundant brownfield sites and accelerating broader urban regeneration which stimulates significant private sector investment.

‘The Island Infrastructure Scheme intends to do just this, starting initially with those sites that have been identified on the Unoccupied Urban Sites Register, encouraging developers to bring forward proposals to redevelop these sites and reduce the risk of them laying fallow for another decade or more.

‘As I made clear when requesting approval from Tynwald in December, proposals will only be supported if they meet the requirements set out through the Scheme to maximise economic outcomes and positive accelerated regeneration to ultimately help the Island move towards a more secure, vibrant and sustainable future for residents and businesses.’

The Island Infrastructure Scheme will be open for two years, from 3rd January 2023 to 31st December 2025 and will be delivered in funding rounds over the two-year period, subject to available the budget.

More information about the Scheme can be found at: https://www.iomdfenterprise.im/iis along with the link to apply.

 

Source: https://www.businessisleofman.com/news/the-island-infrastructure-scheme-is-now-open-for-applications/

 

 

Rukovoditel Project Management Software

| 27/09/2018

Our plans for 2019 will include updating out website and improve the ease in which listings are created.

We thought a good starting point would be to setup a project management application and begin our planning..

A quick Google brought up a great many new offerings, with an array of options, features, free trials, limited space or team members etc etc .

Doing a quick list of what we actually needed helped to narrow this all down, one of the big ones being an application we can host on our own server.

We ended up with a handful of applications and I proceeded to install them one by one so we could evaluate how well they met our needs.

My short list included:

  • OrangeScrum
  • Rukovoditel
  • qdPM
  • ZenTao
  • WebCollab
  • Taiga

Some of the points we considered when making the above list:

  • Regular updates
  • Can be hosted on an up to date webserver
  • How the application is updated – ongong
  • Easy in which you can customised the layout and features to make the software really work for you.
  • Active Community / Developer Support

I did have a clear winner, the easiest application to deploy was Rukovoditel – the installation was a breeze and required no additional server configuration or tweaking, it was basically the case of upload, extract and complete the browser based install screen. (you did need to create a database and user)

Software updates though not automated, are also very easy to do and involve uploading the new files extracting and running an upgrade script in your browser.

We have decided to use Rukovoditel to keep track of all the tasks and to do’s .

These are the main reasons for this decision:

  • Easily customisable to meet our teams needs
  • Open source and free to install
  • Supports PHP 7 which older applications don’t
  • Actively under development
  • Active forum with ongoing support from the developer
  • Additional plugins bringing some interesting features – available at a small fee
  • A lifetime license for plugins once acquired (a big positive)
  • Supports multiple file uploads
  • Supports a ticketing system on a per project basis.
  • Supports invoicing and has payment modules including PayPal (could replace our billing system)
  • Public forms so enquiries can be used to automate sign up process – a big plus really for anyone tired of copying and pasting info from emails into CRM apps..

 

Customisation: It does take some time to get used to all the customisation options and features. Of course, this is time well invested when you get an end result that works for you.

You will find that most of the customisation is a bit hidden away and especially if like me you have been looking at a few application. I did end up going around in circles a bit thinking ” I am sure the settings are here somewhere” – well they ARE – most of the customisation actually takes place under the Entities list – see screen capture below .

 

project-management

 

There is also an interesting section on the Rukovoditel website headed Templates and includes database templates submitted by users – this is a good example of just some of the potential of this software – these templates are free to use and easy to install by following the provided instructions.
The Current templates offered can be viewed here

These templates seem to all be made via the admin section  – so it is really handy to load a few templates before you get started to see how other users have customised their installs –  A word of caution here: uploading a template basically resets your whole application including user name and password so do it before you begin your own cusotmisation or on a separate install.

For anyone looking for an up-to-date project management application – look no further Rukovoditel will probably more than meet your needs .

rukovoditel_box_free_en

To find out more and download your free your copy please visit https://www.rukovoditel.net/

Categories: IBL

PAYROLL TRAINING FOR EMPLOYERS AND AGENTS | Isle of Man

| 22/03/2013

The Income Tax Division intends to run payroll training sessions for employers and agents on 2 and 3 April 2013.

The payroll training sessions will be provided free of charge and are available for all employers and agents who provide payroll services.

The sessions will take place at the Income Tax Division offices and last approximately three hours. The sessions will cover:

• the basic calculation of Income Tax Instalment Payments and National Insurance;

• guidance on the completion of T13, T14 and T9 forms;

• compliance penalties issued by the Division, including details of relevant deadlines and notification periods; and

• details of Online Employer Tax Services.

Additional training sessions may also be provided in the week commencing 8 April 2013 if required.

Interested parties should contact Jane Knowles on telephone number 01624 685042 to arrange attendance.

Article Source

Guernsey to Follow the Isle of Man UK FATCA

| 20/03/2013

CHIEF Minister Allan Bell MHK has welcomed today’s announcement by the government of Guernsey that it intends to follow the Isle of Man in agreeing FATCA-style automatic exchange of tax information with the United Kingdom.

The Isle of Man became the first jurisdiction to commit to UK FATCA when the Chief Minister made an announcement to that effect on December 7 last year.

Mr Bell commented:

‘Guernsey’s announcement is not surprising but it is significant. It confirms our view that FATCA is becoming the new global standard and that other jurisdictions will inevitably have to follow the Isle of Man’s lead on this issue.

‘Guernsey’s proposed agreement with the UK seems to mirror ours, but by making our announcement three months ago we have given our finance sector an additional period of clarity and certainty about our direction of travel. I hope today’s news will provide reassurance for local business that the Isle of Man is doing the right thing and that once again we have shown leadership on an important international issue.’

Statment issued by Chief Secretary’s Office